Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Elizabeth leads 11 of 20 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $518/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $35k less ($358,400 vs $393,700)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $49,329/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $49,329 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$35k less
$358,400 vs $393,700
Germantown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$49,329
$109,268 vs $59,939/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Elizabeth leads 11 of 20 categories. Elizabeth wins 11 and Germantown wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Elizabeth to Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $393,700 median home), income ($59,939 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Germantown, MD are about 193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.